If you have a growing number of holiday cards piling up on your kitchen counter (or hanging off your mantle for the super-moms amongst us), please know that mine will not be among them.
Like every year, we say we are getting holiday cards (we meaning I, my husband could care less) and then realize we don't want to spend precious sleeping/TV-watching time licking, stamping and addressing envelopes, all to send out cards that will eventually wind up in the trash.
Also— who is going to take those cards to the post office? Our magical errand fairy?
So, in a thoroughly modern move (or as the ultimate act of laziness), I have decided that holiday cards are only necessary for people who do not have blogs. I mean, isn't my blog just one long holiday newsletter that lasts all year long? And if you are not reading my blog, do you really deserve a holiday card???
Even though we've ditched the postage effort, I'd still like to show off our family photos. Particularly, since they were taken by the amazing NYC photographer— Jenny Sherouse. A photographer so amazing, she made it look like our just-turned-three-year-old daughter willingly participated in the photo shoot without any threats or bribing whatsoever!
Take a look at the photo up top again. See my arm wrapped around Mazzy's leg? That's me holding onto her with every fiber of my being. Notice my finger hooked on top of her thumb? That's the "Mommy Death Grip". It says, "Try to run from this photo-taking opportunity and you might break a finger."
Mazzy retaliated by almost biting Harlow's ear off…
Then Harlow tried to take her own fingers…
Jenny took our family portraits last year as well and I remember thinking that Mazzy was totally out of control, but now I realize "out of control" is a relative thing.
Thankfully, this year we took the pictures in our apartment so the shoot didn't end in a dangerous toddler chase down the streets of Manhattan.
FAMILY PHOTO TIP: If you have a three-year-old, shoot indoors. Or somewhere with a fence.
In that last photo, Mazzy is pulling my hair and I am laughing like it's the funniest thing in the world instead of the most painful, because THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE ROOM.
One of my favorite photos is the one below but we would never be able to use it on an actual holiday card because Mazzy is nowhere to be found. Unless the message of the card was, "Look! We traded in last year's child for a new one!"
In reality, Mazzy is directly to my left, twirling herself into oblivion and stomping on our duvet.
Harlow, who cannot move on her own (thank god— can you imagine a family photo shoot with two moving targets??), was more photo-ready and agreed to be in every picture.
(I'm currently debating weighting her ankles so that she never learns to walk.)
When all went as planned and our two daughters both cooperated, the resulting photos are, to me, the most beautiful thing in the world…
On second glance, Harlow looks slightly concerned.
As she should. I wouldn't trust Mazzy for a second.
Thank you to Jenny Sherouse for capturing my family in her beautiful pictures. I don't know how she did it, because Mazzy was one big BLUR.
If you are looking for a family photographer in the NY area and beyond, you cannot do better. Check out Jenny's photos here.
Look at your gorgeous family!
I love sibling shots the best – the story behind them/ what happened right after the photo was taken is always a good one. Also, well, they’re just the sweetest aren’t they?
Happy Holidays, Ilana!
These are absolutely perfect! The one with Mazzy upside down is my favorite 🙂 God bless you and your beautiful family. Happy holidays!
I never did holiday cards. I figured if I didn’t start, then nobody could get offended and feel left out 🙂 Not to mention, Chanukah is really an insignificant holiday in the Jewish calendar. (although I don’t send cards for Rosh Hashanah either!)
Ok so I’m not one for actually throwing out websites but I was seriously slacking on holiday cards this year and heard about cardstore . com. For $26 and uploading photos and adresses all I ended up doing was clicking and changing my address excel to their template and they addressed and mailed 44 cards for me no extra cost! Maybe next year! Anyway BEAUTIFUL pics and yes when you have 2 moving targets good luck!
absolutely delicous. I love the way your husband is looking at you in your favorite photo.
Happy holidays.
The pictures are gorgeous. And a tip on the holiday cards… Shutterfly will MAIL THEM FOR YOU. Sure, you pay an extra $1 per card, but it’s totally worth it.
So precious. Such a beautiful family.
Once you have 2 running around, you’ll figure it out I promise!! I love the photos, beautiful family!!
Beautiful pics. My brother is a pretty talented photog and I now just do a Smilebox card via email instead of printing ($$) 200 cards plus postage. I still like getting cards though!
They turned out beautiful! Even with a crazy one doing her own thing 🙂
You seriously crack me up. I totally feel ya! Its blog posts like this that make me feel like I’m not the only cynical mom in this world :p
Well, people can’t hang your blog on their mantle and look at your beautiful faces all season long! But I understand. 😉
Love the pics, you have a gorgeous family. 🙂
We also did our family pictures for Christmas this year and all turned out well even though our almost 3 year old was clingy and cranky. For his individual picture I would literally pry him off my leg while he clung for dear life holloring NOOOOO I would give him a loving shove as I jumped back and poof there was a flash then repeat. Amazingly we got some great pictures of him laughing and smiling moments I do not recall at all…Photographers have an amazing gift to make our caotic world look peaceful and happy!
BTW great looking family!
The last one made me tear up a little. Beautiful! I may need to send you ours now, so you can see what happens when you have two mobile children and need to fully face paint the entire family.
Happy Holidays!
Your family is georgous!
Beautiful photos. 🙂
Beautiful pics! And I agree 100% about blogs being the same as a year-long holiday letter (said the woman who refuses to go to the post office).
These are gorgeous!
I didn’t send holiday cards this year either. My girls’ faces are plastered all over my blog all week anyway so anyone who matters sees more of them than they’d ever want to anyway! 😉
Beautiful family. Happy holidays my friend. xo
when I was seven yers old my Mom took me to a photographer’s studio to have my picture taken professionally. I did not like the bright lights and wanted no part of it, so I ran out of the studio into the streets of NY – my Mom caught up to me almost immediately and attempted to take me back inside, at which point I started screaming “I don’t want to go with you!!! let go of me!!” at the top of my lungs – a crowd developed around us, me now crying and my Mother doing her best to assure people that she was my Mom when a police officer came up and asked her for proof that she was my Mother – of course she had identification, but nothing that would prove she was my Mother, so the police officer bent down and asked me “Is this lady your Mother?” after a few very tense seconds, I nodded and the police officer escorted us right back to the photographer’s studio, where the photograher confirmed that we were indeed Mother and daughter – my Mom told me years later that at the time she was terrified that I would fib and say no!
after that, we did pictures at home…..
You have truly become one of my favorite bloggers and people. I am so glad I found you and your blog during this my first pregnancy. You make me much less afraid. Also you have an absolutely beautiful family! Just stunning I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a great New Year!
Tannith
Your family is GORGEOUS.I really do like all the picture of Mazzy all over the place.
I’m only mailing out cards to people who don’t have e-mail, otherwise they’ll get a digital copy of the card I made in PicMonkey 🙂
Beautiful family! Thank you for sharing the wonderful photos. I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks and you always make me smile!! This was our first year sending holiday cards due to the 9 month old who’s currently destroying my Christmas tree. Thankfully he wasn’t fully mobile during the session. However this weekends family photos is sure to be a challenge!!
The sister’s make me think I want another one….and then I actually read this post and though Uh NOOOO!! But damn those pictures are adorable!!
I like the one of your hubby holding Mazzy upside down – she looks happy. I bet when he put her down she said “Again!”
Oh, the ones of the girls together are presh. I think just about every photo shoot where the littles are involved goes down just as you described. I’m speaking as a professional, but also as a mama. The last time I asked my four to sit together for a portrait, i bribed them with each a small bowl of ice cream. Every photo looks like an outtake. Perhaps I should have offered bigger bowls of ice cream? Sigh.
Those are fantastic. Just beautiful. I am notoriously late with my cards. They’re on my desk waiting to be addressed and stamped as we speak. I usually do my own little photoshoots and that is stressful enough. Had to bribe 6 yo girl with hot chocolate and settled for the 2 yo boy sitting on his little motorcycle instead of the beautiful white rocking horse. At least they’re going out. I have some friends who have sent “new year’s” cards and Easter cards. Really.
Did I mention how beautiful the pictures are? Gorgeous family. Enjoy.
gorgeous pictures, and gorgeous children! love!
LOL- Love you all so very much. First, gorgeous, gorgeous shots. Lifestyle photographers and their ability to shoot moments that look natural AND lovely are the most skilled artisans on the planet. Second-yes, why actually I can imagine a photoshoot with two moving targets. Because we did that just a couple of years ago. And to this day when our eldest looks at the photos she says, “Look Momma, that’s me saying saying alligator boogers” ahhh the memories. And I totally feel your pain. Our photographer emailed me after the fact to tell me how lovely our “lively” children were and how much they reminded her of her own. mm.hmm. good business move. well played. I was so incredibly embarrassed and furious through MUCH of the shoot- yet- I’d like to think most wouldn’t know it by looking at the lovely collection! In particular note the one of Zuzu walking along the back of the couch and another of her flipped upside down- ahhh- we are such a loving carefree family!
http://mollyflanagan.com/2010/05/saturday-morning/
Now I ask you- can you imagine a photoshoot with 3 moving targets?!?! I think we need to get Miss Molly scheduled soon since Sugarplum has begun to crawl.
Really though- your pictures are gorgeous!!!
I love the 2nd one of Mazzy looking at Harlow. Her eyes are so beautiful! And the one of Mazzy upside down is hilarious! Even though you didn’t get a pose family shot, I love the fun in all them!
Simply wonderful. Each and every one of you!
The photos are beautiful! As Tyra would say, you really kept your face in that hair-tugging shot. Bravo!
The photograph or painting above you in the living room is also AMAZING. If you find yourself looking for a comment to answer, would you consider sharing the artist with me?
Thank you! It’s a painting and the artist’s name is Phillip Barlow. I bought it in a gallery in South Africa a bunch of years ago. Here’s a link to some info I found on him: http://artistaday.com/?p=14599
I adore your children’s names! Does “Mazzy” still sound cute after saying it five million times a day?
Whenever parents can’t coax the older kid to snuggle or kiss the new baby, I say, “How does the baby smell? Is she a stinky baby? Can you sniff her and let me know?” Toddlers fall for that shit every time.
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